Depends on the total market, frequency, how many other papers are in the same market, how many other shooter are available to do it for whatever crummy rate they are dolling out, the paper's policy, etc...always terrible sorry to say. Most big papers have a list they go through first, and most of them are not adding new stringers to it. Personally I don't do it any more. I can make many times more shooting headshots or just about anything else. Stringer work is hard and long and I always ended up losing money every time out...so no more.
Newspapers tend to want to cheap out these days. I gave them one paper my price based on the going rate in other markets, and they laughed! They expected at least two photos AND a story by the next morning for 30 bucks. Needless to say, I don't shoot for them. Our hometown paper doesn't pay me, but does give me quite a bit of free advertising every week. To me, the exchange is well worth a few shots (and no story) now and then.
